GOPonderings

Of all things a political party may lack --such as money, issues, an organization-- the Republican Party has an acute worry over only one, a leader. Last week a number of Republicans who had been tearing their hair to think of a man, suddenly inspired, asked hopefully: "What about Owen J. Roberts?"

What inspired them was meditation on a matter cheering to many a Republican heart: Mr. Justice Roberts' opinion invalidating the Railway Pension Act (TIME, May 13) in which he held that laudable social aims are no substitute for constitutionality. A man with such beliefs might be the leader whom Republicans desired. Was he not, they asked, only 60, a good age for a candidate? Had this Philadelphia lawyer not received the cachet of approval from Presidents Coolidge and Hoover? Had he not struck up a fine friendship with the Press while prosecuting the Teapot Dome oil cases? Had he not voted with the Supreme Court's liberals in nine out of 13 5-to-4 decisions, voted with the conservatives the four remaining times? A sound political balance. Republicans told one another, a candidate who should be kept in mind.

No one troubled to ask how Mr. Roberts felt about being drafted as Republican leader. Supreme Court tradition requires Justices to keep out of politics. Last year Justice Stone, similarly mentioned, put his foot down. Nineteen years ago Justice Hughes refused any response to his backers until the Republican Convention had actually nominated him for President. And Mr. Roberts, looking sidewise at the bearded gentleman who now sits in the centre of the Bench, remembering Mr. Hughes' unfortunate experience, might well refuse a Republican offer. Last week he maintained dignified silence.

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